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Basketball team features seve Youth, enthus By Mik? Chibbaro fitaM WrUm* When Bill Foster accepted the head basketball coaching job at USC in March, he outlined a set of priorities which he planned to pursue vehemently. Heading his list of priorities, were the assemblage of a coaching staff and recruiting. These two elements along with the building of a competitive schedule became the foundation I tor a new era in (jaronna DasKetDaii. Two months after his arrival at USC, Foster had succeeded in bringing together one of the finest coaching staffs in the country and luring seven talented basketball players to his program at Carolina. FOSTER EXPLAINED his plans for the development of USC's men's basketball program. "We want to capitalize fully on our situation," the successful 49-year old coach said. "We want to take full advantage of our independent status as far as scheduling and travel are concerned and we want to utilize the reputation which Coach (Frank) McGuire has built for South Carolina I basketball. ..wp feel we have a responsibility to capitalize on these things." Foster, who built winning programs at Bloomsburg State, Rutgers, Utah, and Duke before coming to USC, deemphasized the often overemphasized need for Carolina to affiliate with a conference. "I know a lot of people would like for us to join a conference, one conference in particular, but I think this is a feeling that comes and goes," the personable head coach explained. "We feel like if we play exciting basketball, have a fairly good schedule, and a couple of exciting players, along with winning some games then the need for a league may not be I emphasized as much.'' THROUGHOUT HIS 20-year head coaching career, Foster has been known and respected for his recruitment of quality athletes. He explained his philosophy on recruiting. "We believe in recruiting prospects, not suspects," he said. "We have always preferred to recruit a certain kind of player...one that has more than just the physical tools." Comprising Foster's talented young coaching staff are Bob Wenzel, Ray Jones, and Steve Steinwedel. Wenzel and Jones were assistant coaches under Foster at Duke last season, while Jones held an assistant coaching position at Furman before relocating to Columbia. Jones was also an assistant coach under Foster at Duke for two seasons. These three men, along with Foster have accepted the % BBHRft (J* 'V '' - '1jo[-:7- y:i:^Xj^{AJt v-^^T;T?^- fF? 'y^ vr"^ITr 11p~ir: . Lv"-~r^r'^L i~':v~-"A^.-:!-'-.:.vi';> JT^ZirT^LTI'i "I?_': " I :-, ; ^ .,* '- - L . ~J1 :\^' " 'IBtfiMHB^HBi^K^^iv >> ^s ?j| viwV9RHSHMK'MB f^^^wk'-"^ *5* wm Zam Fredrick (20) and Kevin Dun/eavy will serve a co-captains for the 1980-81 USC basketball team. n ? ^ = O U PAIRS Of iARRINGS ? Colors ^ y Coupon T3| c Pearls **p,'e* ?! a aA? ^ A A 9-3-80 2 J* Gold & Silver I SURGICAL STIll CLUTCHtS & clutches) 9 " AT THE JEWELRY WAREHOUSE SALE I 2909 PLATT SPRINGS RD., W. COLA. 9 till 6 Mon.-Sal. I Jus* n newcomers iasm mark new numerous cnauenges mat were waiting lor tnem upon uieir arrival at USC. Coach Foster and his staff inherited an unenviable task in respect to recruiting. ONLY FOUR PLAYERS returned from last year's 16-11 squad and one of those remaining four, Derrick Scott, will not be returning this fall. Due to the coaching change, Foster and his staff also got a very late start in the recruiting battle. Despite the adverse circumstances, the USC coaching staff is pleased with the seven prospects signed this year. Jones, who Foster refers to as a 4'dedicated recruiter," assessed the corps of youngsters recruited by the Gamecock coaches. we goi a laie siari, dui we are very pieasea wun tne kios we recruited," Jones said. "We didn't start talking to kids until March 21 and it's tough to talk to a player that late, but we feel like we recruited some very good athletes. One of the most sought-after Gamecock recruits was 6-9 Brad Jergenson from Maitowac, Wise. Jergenson, who can play either forward or center, averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds his senior year in high school. "Brad was recruited by Marquette, Tennessee, and Furman and we feel fortunate to have gotten him," Jones commented. "He is a good rebounder and defensive player and a very good athlete." JOINING THE NEWCOMERS in the frontcourt will be 6-9 2C> pound Jimmy Foster from Greenville. Foster, after averaging nearly 30 points and 20 rebounds a game during his junior year at Wade Hampton High, did not play his senior year due to personal reasons. ' I Minolta io%-: Ricoh r? Canon s%i Olympus R Stu Nikon 2o%-4o?s Yashica Co kin filters IHxsmsmmmm l\l COMPETITIVE CAMERAS I ,JaBBHmmmm j 66We Teach You He ' ? I ? " I ?[ idusioi I 15% Off cut - Perms witl Appointment complete Line Pro Ask for Ray or val Phone 782-7770 782-7771 5213 Forest Drive I 3 Doors Down From Ste I Visa and Master Charge Accep era Other frontcourt signees were 6-6 forward from Niceville, Fla. Holmes, who was recruited by Ohio State and Ole Miss, averaged 23 points a game as a senior at Richard Arnoxd High. Sophomore Kevin Darmody will be the only returnee for the Gamecocks in the frontcourt. t? ii? i 1 1 i Ill (.lie LMCKCUUl l, JUIUUl CUUC^C II dliaici uciaiu i cavuv.n heads an impressiye list of newcomers. Peacock is described by Jones as a "very quick guard who can fly up and down the court." Joining Peacock in the backcourt will be 6-6 Billy Bessoir of Scranton, Pa. and 6-3 Scott Sanderson from Tuscaloosa, Ala. Bessoir, whose father is the head basketball coach at the University of Scranton, averaged 29 points a game as a senior at Scranton Prep. Jones also indicated that Coach Foster and his staff will work diligently to solicit student support for the basketball program. "We want this place (Carolina Coliseum) to be the hardest place around to play in and we feel the students can make it that way," Jones said with a gleam of excitement. FOR GAMECOCK basketball fans, patience could prove to Kfl o rtnlHon irirtna fnp thorn oe fhou wotnh thoir tpam cuffor ? MV U gVlUVII Til VUV AV& UIV1I1 U>J UtVJ TVUVVH MiVU vv^4<?? wmabv* through some early season growing pains under their new head coach. But despite the Gamecocks' obvious lack of experience, the high level of anticipation demonstrated by the new Gamecock coaching staff indicates that there will certainly be no shortage of enthusiasm. Reprinted from Summer issue of June 11. 10% Discount on Dark ont Equipment plus iscount More on Dark )om Material with lent ID 17-2 Diamond Lane | Intersection I Shopping Center f] (Just up the hill from Sam Solomon) wmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmsmmmmmmmammmm . \ :s, Styles and I DLUUtJML IU s Not Necessary of Redken Hair ducts